Uncle Istvan

Reimagining Legendary Cards

For old non-legendary cards that clearly depict named characters, like Uncle Istvan and Niall Sylvain, do you think we could ever see new reimagined cards that are legendary?

It’s not off the table.

Uncle Istvan

Regarding Uncle Istvan

I like to think that Istvan is everyone's uncle, including everyone here

I have an Uncle Istvan. We don’t talk about Istvan.

Uncle Istvan

Ancestors in New Capenna

With New Capenna being Alara in the distant past (before it broke into Shards), will we be seeing Ajani or Tezzeret's ancestors?

We’ll see all the ancestors of all the planeswalkers. You’ll never guess who’s related to Uncle Istvan.

Planeswalkers Three Color Uncle Istvan

Uncle Istvan Type Returns

What made you decide to bring back the Uncle Istvan creature type for SNC?

It just felt wrong to do elkfolk and not have Uncle Istvan.

Creatures Streets of New Capenna Uncle Istvan

Humor in Uncle Istvan Meme

Re: Uncle Istvan. The card has become somewhat of a meme in the online Magic community because the ridiculous type line of "Summon Uncle Istvan" from The Dark. Feels like the type of callback we could see in a Modern Horizons set :)

So just for the humor value.

Humor Modern Horizons Uncle Istvan

Trivia about Uncle Istvan

Late Birthday request! Can i Have some trivia about Uncle Istvan? First card ive got in my 1e The Dark booster…am a long time player!

There was less coordination in the early days with sets being designed by different teams. I’m pretty sure Jesper Myrfors, who designed The Dark, was unaware of what Steve Conard and his design team was doing with Legends, because if he had Uncle Istvan would have been legendary (or technically, a Legend at the time). Happy Birthday!

Birthday Boosters Legendary Creatures Uncle Istvan

Uncle Istvan Reprint

Will we ever see a reprint of uncle Istvan as a legendary perhaps? :)

A reprint would be the same, so not legendary.

Reprints Uncle Istvan

Community Reaction to Podcast

WiML was a fantastic idea, but Twitter lacks experience with asking questions. They gotta go for crazier stuff, like "Which is more likely, a triple meld Planeswalker card with Urza, Yawgmoth, and Uncle Istvan or an entire set of community-created cards like Waste Not based exclusively on Kamigawa?"

What did others think of my “Which is More Likely?” Podcast?

Drive to Work Meld Planeswalkers Uncle Istvan Urza Waste Not

Legendary Status Errata

Do you think the majority of players would react favorably to Ali From Cairo, Uncle Istvan, The Nephilim, and other appropriate cards getting errata'd to Legendary?

The majority of players don’t play Commander/Brawl. Other than in those formats, being legendary is a mechanical downside, so no, I don’t think the majority would react favorably.

Ali from Cairo Brawl Commander Errata Nephilim Uncle Istvan

Non-Legendary to Legendary

The Dark was technically after Legends, but it didn’t adopt the legendary supertype and had several named characters (e.g. Uncle Istvan). Any chance cards like these would ever become legendary?

Nothing that was printed non-legendary is getting errataed to legendary.

Card Printing Errata Legendary Creatures Supertype The Dark Uncle Istvan

Creature Type Considerations

The main point I was trying to make was that snake tribal was supported,so printing cards that would have been a ok to call snakes as nagas is like what you did in early sets,where uncle Istvan was type uncle Istvan. Sure it’s accurate, but it hurts gameplay for tribal players.

Having pre-existing cards that care about a certain creature type is weight towards using that creature type in the future but it is only one factor. Having cards that care about Lizards or Birds doesn’t mean Dinosaur wasn’t the right call.

Bird Card Printing Creatures Dinosaur Game Play Kindred / Typal Lizard Naga Snake Uncle Istvan

Unusual Babysitters

Who do you think would make a better babysitter: Uncle Istvan or Grandmother Sengir?

I would trust neither with my children.

Grandmother Sengir Uncle Istvan

Uncle Istvan's Lore

Why isn't Uncle Istvan Legendary?

Apparently there’s a whole bunch of them. : )

Uncle Istvan

Uncle Istvan Support

When can we expect Uncle Istvan tribal support?

I have some bad news for you…

Keyword Actions Kindred / Typal Uncle Istvan

Uncle Istvan Origin

Curious how "Steve Bishop" becomes "Uncle Istvan"?

It was a nickname. I don’t know how he got it.

Uncle Istvan

About Uncle Istvan

Yo Maro! Today's finally my birthday so I was wondering if I could get some trivia on Uncle Istvan.

Uncle Istvan is named after a nickname of a former Wizards employee named Steve Bishop who used to run Organized Play (back then just called Events). Happy Birthday!

Birthday Employee Mark Rosewater Organized Play Uncle Istvan Wizards Employees

Vendilion Clique Insight

Hi Mark! I'm trying for the third time, some people say that's the charm. My Birthday was May 6th. First I asked for trivia about Emrakul - dashed hopes. Then, I asked about Uncle Istvan - dissipated. Now I'll ask for trivia on Vendilion Clique! It's an interesting card to ask about, because it is simple yet versatile and powerful. Hope you don't have a force of will for this 3rd trivia request. You seem to be tapped out.

All the Faeries in Lorwyn/Morningtide had flying. Originally they all had flash as well, but that proved a little too much, so we just had the blue Faeries have flash. That was still too much so we had most the blue Faeries have flash.One of the big discussions with Vendilion Clique was can Blue have discard. Blue in theory is a distant secondary at discard usually because you force someone to discard and draw, so we used that technology to make Vendilion Clique. Happy Belated Birthday!

Birthday Blue Discard Faerie Flash Flying Force of Will Lorwyn Morningtide Secondary Uncle Istvan Vendilion Clique

Uncle Istvan Consideration

It's my birthday! Was Uncle Istvan (one of my favorite creatures) ever considered for Innistrad (my favorite set)?

No. Even though he is not technically legendary he creatively feels so.

Birthday Creatures Innistrad Uncle Istvan

Uncle Istvan's Origin

Who/what was Uncle Istvan?

It was an inside joke about a former Wizards employee named Steve Bishop.

Employee Humor Uncle Istvan Wizards Employees

Cards Named After People

How many cards are named and/or look like people from Wizards?

Maro = me. : ) Jaeymdae Tome = J.M.D. = J. Michael Davis (R&D) Jalum Tome = J.L.M. = Joel L. Mick (R&D, Brand) Emissi Tome = M.S.E. = Michael S. Elliott (R&D) Mons’s Goblin Raiders = Mons Johnson (R&D) Rysorian Badger = Rhias Hall (Organized Play) Joven’s Ferret = Kylve Namvar (Customer Service, Homelands designer) Uncle Istvan = Steve Bishop (Organized Play) Rubinia Soulsinger = Carol Monahan (Sales) That’s the ones off the top of my head.

Badger Ferret Goblin Homelands Jalum Tome Joven Mark Rosewater Organized Play Rubinia Soulsinger Rysorian Badger Uncle Istvan